The celebrated French lovebirds could not make it to the 17th century monument of love…Poor Nicolas Sarkozy sat alone on the “lovers’ bench” strategically placed in front of The Taj for lovers from the world-over to pose. Indian guide at the Taj, Kamlesh Dwivedi, who showed Sarkozy around, said the French President looked “glum”, suggesting that absence of Bruni had affected Sarkozy’s mood.
The Times of India reports: “But Sarkozy kept the hopes alive of his returning with Bruni as he said in his farewell message at the architectural marvel — ‘See you soon again’. The French leader, who came to India on Friday on a two-day visit, took time off his tightly-packed schedule to visit the Taj amid heightened media interest, particularly in view of the guessing game over whether Bruni would accompany him.”
Earlier, Carla Bruni had reportedly told a French newspaper that she could not go on an official trip with him to India this week because she was not married to him; and so there will be no potential problems caused by this in India where unmarried couples are a rarity.
(Photo courtesy the Reuters)
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.